Liquid cooled rack with compliant heat exchanger support structure

ABSTRACT

A liquid cooled rack with compliant heat exchanger support structure includes a rack having a rigid frame for supporting electronic components therein, a plurality of flexible supports connected to the rigid frame, and a liquid-fed heat exchanger mounted within the rack via the plurality of flexible supports. The plurality of flexible supports are connected to the heat exchanger and configured to flexibly support the liquid-fed heat exchanger with respect to the rigid frame.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a typical server rack with a heatexchanger located in a data room where a part of a frame is removed soas to expose internal components therein. As can be seen from FIG. 1,the server rack 100 has a rigid frame 101 and liquid-fed heat exchangers102. The server rack 100 also has a various kinds of electric components(not shown) disposed therein. In the data room, a pipe system 103 isinstalled, typically overhead, and delivers a liquid coolant to the heatexchangers 102 to cool the electronic components. The sever rack 100 mayinclude fans 108 for propagating air through the server rack 100 acrossthe heat exchangers 102 to cool the electronic components therein.

The liquid-fed heat exchangers 102 are rigidly held by the frame 101approximately horizontally. Specifically, the liquid-fed heat exchangers102 are secured to the frame 101 by screws such that the liquid-fed heatexchangers 102 are rigidly held in place in the frame 101.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquidcooled rack with compliant heat exchanger support structure includes arack having a rigid frame for supporting electronic components therein,a plurality of flexible supports connected to the rigid frame, and aliquid-fed heat exchanger mounted within the rack via the plurality offlexible supports. The plurality of flexible supports are connected tothe heat exchanger and configured to flexbly support the liquid-fed heatexchanger with respect to the rigid frame.

Other aspects and advantageous of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a typical server rack with a heatexchanger located in a data room where a part of a frame is removed soas to expose internal components therein.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a liquid cooled rack with compliantheat exchanger support structure in a data room in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present invention where a part of a frame areremoved so as to expose internal components therein.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged bottom view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged top view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 2in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG.5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the variousfigures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a morethorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known featureshave not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicatingthe description.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a liquid cooled rack with compliantheat exchanger support structure in a data room in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present invention where a part of a frame isremoved so as to expose internal components therein. As can be seen fromFIG. 2, the rack 200 has a rigid frame 201 and liquid-fed heatexchangers 202. The liquid-fed heat exchangers 202 are secured to therigid frame 201 by compliant attachment members 206. With reference tothe following figures, various embodiments of the compliant attachmentmembers 206 are discussed in detail. In one or more embodiments, thecompliant attachment members 206 may comprise springs, flexible plates,flexible rods, flexible bands, or any other flexible supports, which areconnected to the liquid-fed heat exchangers 202 in various waysdepending on the configuration of the rack 200. The frame 201 supports avarious kinds of electric components, such as electronic modules, bladeservers, or the like (not shown) disposed therein. The different numbersof liquid-fed heat exchangers 202 may be used.

In the data room, an overhead pipe system 203 may be installed over therack 200. The position of the overhead pipe system 203 may be adjustedaccording to the design of the data room and position of the rack 200.The overhead pipe system 203 delivers a liquid coolant to the heatexchangers 202 to cool the electronic components therein.

Although the overhead pipe system 203 is connected to each of the heatexchangers 202 in FIG. 2, one skilled in the art will appreciate thatany other connections between the overhead pipe system 203 and the heatexchangers 202 could be used as long as the overhead pipe system 203delivers a liquid coolant to the heat exchangers 202 to cool theelectronic components properly.

Further, the rack 200 may include fans 208 for propagating air acrossthe heat exchangers 202 through the rack 200 to cool the electroniccomponents. The number of the fans and the position of the fans may bedetermined based on the design of the rack 200 and the electriccomponents disposed therein.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged bottom view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG.2. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the top view of theheat exchanger may be the same as that shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows anenlarged side view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 202 is mounted within aholder 203. Specifically, the heat exchanger 202 may be disposed on theholder 203 by attachment methods known in the art. Also, air may easilypass through the holder 203 such that air is propagated across the heatexchangers 202 through the rack 200 to cool the electronic components.In one or more embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate thatany other shapes of the heat exchangers 202 and the holders 203 could beused as long as the heat exchangers 202 are flexibly supported withinthe rack 200 as explained below.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder 203 may have recessed portions 204at the top and bottom surface thereof The recessed portions 204 may bepositioned around corners of the holder 204. Further, each of therecessed portions 204 has projections 401 and 402 on the top and bottomsurfaces thereof respectively.

The frame 201 has attachments parts 401 corresponding to the recessedportions 204. Specifically, the frame 201 has the attachment parts 403and 404 at the inside surface thereof. Each of the attachment parts 403has a projection 405 on the bottom surface thereof. Also, each of theattachment parts 404 has a projection 406 on the top surface thereofCorrespondingly, the recessed portions 204 of the heat exchangers 202have projections 410 and 412.

A spring 407 is installed between the projections 405 and 410. Also, aspring 408 is installed between the projections 406 and 412. Thus, therecessed portions 204 of the holder 203 are flexibly connected to theattachment parts 403 and 404 via the springs 407 and 408. That is, thesprings 407 and 408 flexibly supports the heat exchangers 202approximately horizontally with respect to the rigid frame 201.

As a result, the liquid cooled rack with compliant heat exchangersupport structure allows the heat exchangers 202 to rotate/swivel andabsorb displacement of the frame 201 transmitted from the frame 201 dueto a vibration, such as, by an earthquake, allowing the heat exchangers202 to maintain the spatial geometry and envelope.

The positions, the numbers, the size, and the shape of the recessedportions 204, attachment parts 403 and 404, springs 407 and 408,projections 406, 408, 410, and 412 may be adjusted in accordance withthe design of the heat exchangers 202, the frame 201, and the internalelectric components as long as the heat exchangers 202 are flexiblysupported within the rack 200 as described.

In one or more embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that,instead of springs 407 and 408, flexible plates, flexible rods, flexiblebands, or any other flexible supports known in the art could be used aslong as the heat exchangers 202 are flexibly supported within the rack200 with respect to the rigid frame 201 as explained. For example, FIG.5 shows an enlarged top view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 2 inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6shows an enlarged side view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one end of the flexible support 501 may beattached to the holder 203 of the heat exchangers 202 by a screw 502,and the other end of the flexible support 501 may be attached to theinside surface of the frame 201 by screw 503. Specifically, each cornersthe heat exchangers 202 are attached to the inside surface of the frame201 via a pair of the flexible supports 501 so that the heat exchangers202 are supported flexibly by the flexible supports 501 with respect tothe rigid frame 201.

As a result, the liquid cooled rack with compliant heat exchangersupport structure allows the heat exchangers 202 to rotate/swivel andabsorb displacement of the frame 201 transmitted from the frame 201 dueto an earthquake, allowing the heat exchangers 202 to maintain thespatial geometry and envelope during the earthquake.

In one or more embodiments, both ends of the flexible supports may beattached by adhesives, bonding, or any other methods known in the art aslong as the heat exchangers 202 are flexibly supported by the flexiblesupports 501 with respect to the rigid frame 201 as explained above.Also, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any other thepositions, the numbers, the sizes, and the shapes of the flexiblesupports 501 could be used as long as the heat exchangers 202 areflexibly supported within the rack 200 as explained above.

One or more embodiments of the present invention may have one or more ofthe following advantages. The liquid cooled rack with compliant heatexchanger support structure allows the heat exchangers to rotate/swiveland absorb the rack's frame displacement transmitted from the frame dueto an earthquake, allowing the heat exchangers to maintain the spatialgeometry and envelope during the earthquake. Further, the liquid cooledrack with compliant heat exchanger support structure prevents theflexure of the heat exchangers from exceeding the allowed flexureresulting in mechanical failure and or a leakage of the coolant.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be advised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as described thereinAccordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims.

1. A liquid cooled rack with compliant heat exchanger support structure,comprising: a rack comprising a rigid frame for supporting electroniccomponents therein; a plurality of flexible supports connected to therigid frame; and a liquid-fed heat exchanger mounted within the rack viathe plurality of flexible supports; wherein the plurality of flexiblesupports are connected to the heat exchanger and configured to flexiblysupport the liquid-fed heat exchanger with respect to the rigid frame.2. The liquid cooled rack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexiblesupports are connected to the heat exchanger at corners thereof.
 3. Theliquid cooled rack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexiblesupports comprise a plurality of springs.
 4. The liquid cooled rack ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible supports comprise a pluralityof flexible plates.
 5. The liquid cooled rack of claim 1, wherein theplurality of flexible supports comprise a plurality of flexible rods. 6.The liquid cooled rack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexiblesupports comprise a plurality of flexible rods.
 7. The liquid cooledrack of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of heat exchangersmounted within the rack via the plurality of flexible supports.
 8. Theliquid cooled rack of claim 1, further comprising fans mounted withinthe rack for propagating air across the heat exchangers through the rackto cool electronic components mounted therein.
 9. The liquid cooled rackof claim 1, further comprising an overhead pipe system for deliveringliquid coolant to the heat exchangers.